Welcome Smores!

Lexie had a great 6th birthday but she was a little disappointed. She really wanted a toy pony named "Smores" that she had seen advertised on TV. She got money from a couple of friends and from Grandma Pat. She decided to ask Grandma Nancy to help out--which she graciously did! $10 dollars from Alyssa and I pitched in the rest--"Smores" was delivered to our door 5 days later!

He came "some assembly required" meaning that HE HAD NO HEAD! It was a really long day waiting for Brandon to come home from school--he did and was very gracious. He and Lexie not only put the horse together, he used the box (plus several others) to make her an awesome fort with trap doors and the whole nine yards.

Lexie and her friends have had a blast playing with Smores and in the wonderful fort. A little team work went a long way to making this the best birthday ever!

And Here'sssssss ....Vanna!

To break the doldrum's of winter, Lexie and our friend Allie decided to play in my tuperware cupboard. They completely emptied it and had a tea party inside. It took me two weeks to convince Lexie to let me put my tupperware back in there.


A group high school student's decided to have a party and dress up like celebrities. Alyssa went as Vanna White and her friend (no, she would not let me take a picture of her friend!) went as Dianna Ross. They were so cute and had a really fun time.

Now That's a Snow Storm

A big thank you to those of you who called or e-mailed to check on us because our last storm made the national news. While we did get almost 2 feet of snow, it wasn't the ice storms of Eastern Ohio or other areas. Our snow was very powdery and light. What a relief.

I didn't dare get the camera out until the end of the day because it pretty much snowed all day long. The kids didn't have school and BGSU cancelled my classes also. After shoveling our place and that of a ward member's--we had just enough daylight and energy left to make our blob snowman. That is all the powdery snow would allow for us to do.

Brandon added the finishing green touches! With Alyssa's scarf and sunglasses, Brady's hat, and Lexie's shovel--we think our blob man is very cool.

Lexie's 6th Birthday!

Lexie really wanted to have an outside birthday party this year. She had hoped we could snow paint and have a treasure hunt in the snow. Since I couldn't guarantee the presence of snow for her birthday and since I couldn't imagine 25 six years olds playing in the snow and keeping them all warm; we decided to have a pool party instead.

We have the best little pool here. It is called the Nicols Therapy Pool. It is at the school for people with disabilities. Right after the party began and Lexie got in the pool, she came into the locker room hysterically crying because she didn't have her arm floaties. She was so upset that she would have to wear one of the life jackets or hold on to the edge the entire time.

We went to the lifeguard with Lexie's problem. He told her to get in the pool and hold on to Alyssa for a minute. He pushed a button and THE ENTIRE FLOOR RAISED UP! It was so awesome--He said "tell me when you can touch and you are happy". When the water was up to Lexie's chest she told him to stop and every one of the kids got to swim with no arm floaties, life jackets or anything.

Since it is a pool for people with disabilities, the pool is kept extra warm and there were no cold children at the party! :-) There was a lot of itchy skin at our house later though because it is also hyper-chlorinated.

Because the party was on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the cafeteria at the facility was closed. It is usually part of the party package but they felt so badly they let us do treats and presents on the deck of the pool. That was awesome. Lexie chose muffins for her party cake and my friend Bethany was gracious enough to make the treats for the kids. They were wonderful and all of Lexie's friends were really impressed with them.

We had Lexie's family party at home later that night. Gary took her shopping and bought her almost a new wardrobe. She also saved all the money she got for her birthday ($55) and used it towards a pony named "Smores" that she has been wanting. We ordered it yesterday. I will post it and her fashion show when it comes.

Alyssa, Brandon, and Brady were the best helpers ever. Alyssa was in charge of all the kids and she played games with them and helped them in and out of the pool. Lexie really loved having her sister in the pool with her. Brandon also helped with the kids. He was in charge of the boys locker room and made sure all of Lexies friends got the help they needed so they wouldn't have to be embarrassed. Lexie's friends really enjoyed both Alyssa's and Brandon's help.

Brady was just happy to get wet in the middle of January!